Carmon Wheatcraft

Carmon L. Wheatcraft was born May 18, 1924 in Boynton, OK, and died March 28, 2021 in West Covina, CA at the age of 96. He was the older son of Ralph and Helen (Kucera) Wheatcraft, native Nebraskans who spent several years in Oklahoma while Ralph was working in the oil fields with his father. They later returned to Nebraska to work together on a farm north of Jansen.

After graduation from Fairbury High School in 1942, Carmon hitchhiked to San Diego for work in the Maritime Service building ships. Soon after he received his “Greetings” from Jefferson County. Due to his work, he could have received a deferment but instead answered the draft call into the Army. While at Ft. Blanding, FL., Carmon entered the Army’s ASTP Program, after scoring in the top 1% of those tested to identify academically talented candidates.  He excelled at an engineering course of study at Bowdoin College in Brunswick, Maine, but once the draft included married men with children, the Army discontinued the program. He served with the 37th Buckeye Division in the Philippine Islands. Shortly before the end of the war, in 1945 he was wounded in Aparri, and had two operations in a field hospital, before being flown to Manila and later on to Bushnell General Hospital in Brigham City, Utah, where he received the treatment and rehabilitation that saved his arm. It was there he learned the game of chess, taught by an orderly who was a Russian POW. His actions in service earned him the Purple Heart, Expert Infantry’s Badge and the Bronze Star.

His biggest peacetime accomplishment was serving as the Department Commander of the American Legion for the state of Nebraska, 1989-90. He was a 65 year member of the Elks, a life member of the VFW and a 75 year member of American Legion Post  #358 in Jansen.

A dream of Carmon’s was to attend the dedication of the WW II Memorial in Washington, D.C. on May 29, 2004. The Memorial had been years in the planning and Dad wanted to be there in memory of the boys who never made it home, particularly those who died in the ambush of his unit, leaving him the sole surviving member. He arranged a bus trip for forty-six that included nine local WW II Veterans. Once there, their shuttle bus was escorted to the dedication site on the National Mall by the police in honor of the VIP’s (Veteran’s) on board. For years after, those on the trip thanked Carmon for making the unforgettable trip a reality.

Carmon was a devoted son to his mother. Before her death at 109, she still regularly imparted advice to her 88 year old son, such as, instead of spending on trips, he should be saving for his old age.  He adored his only sibling, younger brother Erman “Bud”. They became the men of the house early when their beloved father died at 33. Upon his return from the service, Carmon met Joan George at a dance and they were married 6 months later at Trinity Lutheran Church in Jansen on September 6, 1946.  They remained equal partners in life, parenting and work for the next 56 years. Carmon had already selected the names Jeff and Connie for his future children, who arrived in 1948 and 1955. His granddaughter, Jessica, was a joy to him his whole life. Many men in the 1950s were content with having minimum involvement with child-rearing, believing their wives would handle it all. Not Carmon. He was right in the middle of any activity of his children and later his granddaughter. When his son wanted a chess tournament for his 13th birthday, he set one up in the grocery store on a Sunday. He taught a number of Jansen kids how to play chess. One spring, he thought he’d teach the kids in Jansen how to long jump and ended up in traction with a broken leg.

Returning to Jansen in February, 1946 he purchased a grocery store from Lloyd Thrap that became Carmon’s IGA and later Jansen Thriftway. He was a skilled butcher, in demand for custom processing work. Along the way, he taught many new wives how to cook a cut of meat from his case.  Carmon was among 14 servicemen who had returned from military duty to start their businesses in Jansen. In 1960 he received an appointment as a Rural Letter Carrier out of the Jansen Post Office and later, the Fairbury Post Office. At various times in his life he served as Jansen Volunteer Fire Chief (the name “Chief”stuck with him), Jansen School Board president and Jansen Investment Club president. He served as a popular Santa at the firehouse for many years. He loved the game of golf and spent many happy hours with his friends (so named the "Rat Pack” by the younger members) at the Fairbury Country Club. He golfed almost every weekday until just after turning 90.

During their marriage, Carmon and Joan enjoyed traveling by car, attending dances, and were members of a pinochle card group who remained close friends for 50 years. After retirement in 1989, Carmon and Joan spent winters in Southern California with their daughter and son. For at least 10 years they vacationed with long-time friends Art and Elnora Smith in Palm Springs, where they shared a condo and enjoyed golfing.

Later in life, Carmon was blessed with another family when granddaughter Jessica married Ben Guthrie. The Guthries welcomed him into their life and he adored being “Grandpa” to them the past ten years. He made a Christmas visit to see them in Vancouver, B.C, Nick and Anna came for a visit to Nebraska, Jenni wrote, visited and sent his favorite salmon treat and Ross declared him his “favorite American”.

He will be remembered as a generous man, known for his sense of humor, loving and caring heart, calm demeanor and commitment to service of others. He was everyone’s favorite “dad” and a loyal friend. His love of conversation and storytelling brought laughter and joy to his extended family, many friends and random people he met along the way. Carmon never turned down a trip. He never complained, not even during below zero temperatures when he was on the mail route. He believed happiness was not a location or a destination. He loved to cook and give people his recipes. He was GOOD.

Survivors include daughter Connie (Greg) Brown, Palm Springs, CA, son, Jeffrey, West Covina, CA. Granddaughter, Jessica (Ben Guthrie) Thomas, Westchester, CA, sister-in-law, Jean Wheatcraft, Crete, NE., devoted best friend Chuck Anneke, West Covina, CA, goddaughter, Linda Cuthbert Parsons, San Juan Capistrano, CA. Nieces and nephews, Diane, David, Don, Mary, Kirsten, Gary, Dan, Bonnie, MaryLynne, TyAnne and Julie.  Also, many adored grand nieces and grand nephews, all who were so attentive to their Uncle Carmon.

Carmon was preceded in death by his wife Joan, in 2002, parents, Ralph Wheatcraft, in 1937 and Helen Wheatcraft Bernhard, in 2012, brother Erman “Bud” Wheatcraft, brothers-in-law and sisters-in-law, Alden and Marie George, Elmer “Buster’ and Hermi George, George and Doris George, John and Lorine Steinberg, A.D. Kadletz, Don Dodge and Thelma Kadletz Dodge and Joe and Genevieve Gray, nieces, Debbie Wheatcraft Misenhelter, Marilyn Schmidt, nephew, Bob Steinberg.

His positive outlook on life was unwavering and will be missed by all who knew him.

A celebration of life gathering will take place Friday, May 14, from 4:00 - 5:30 p.m. at the Gerdes-Meyer Funeral Home.

A luncheon in Dad’s honor will be provided by the Grace Lutheran Ladies Aid at 12:00 noon at Grace Lutheran Church 1100 ‘G’ St., Fairbury, NE, followed by Memorial services at 1:30 with Rev. Glen Emery, officiating.  Burial will be in the Fairbury Cemetery, where he will rest next to his beloved wife, Joan.

In lieu of flowers, memorials to the Fairbury Cemetery Association, P.O. Box 408, Fairbury, NE 68352 .